A Left-Handed Sofer

Question: I need to order tefillin for our son, who will become bar mitzva next year. Is it preferable to have the parshiyos written by a right-handed sofer, or by a left-handed sofer whose handwriting is of a higher standard?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 32:5) rules that a sofer should write with his right hand, while a left-handed sofer should write with his left hand, since for him this is equivalent to the right hand of a right-handed person.

The Magen Avraham (32:5), citing the Rema Mipano (38), records a case of a sofer in Egypt who wrote tefillin by holding the quill in his mouth. His tefillin were declared passul, even when no others were available. The Mishna Berura (32:5) explains that writing in this manner is not considered normal writing.

There is, however, a machlokes concerning a left-handed sofer. The Shaarei Teshuva (27:11) cites the Mahari Tzemach, who writes that, for Kabbalistic reasons, a left-handed sofer should write tefillin with his right hand. The Ben Ish Chai (Rav Pealim OC 2:9) adopts this approach, ruling that a left-handed person should initially put on his tefillin on his left arm, like everyone else, and then put them on his right arm. He extends this to the writing of tefillin: since the tying is done with the right hand, the writing should likewise be done with the right hand. Accordingly, he advises that one wishing to satisfy all opinions should not rely on tefillin written by a left-handed sofer.

R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 10:3), however, strongly rejects this concern, ruling that a left-handed sofer may write with his left hand. He maintains that the rulings of the Gemara and poskim take precedence over Kabbalistic considerations.

In conclusion, one should choose a left-handed sofer over a right-handed one if his handwriting is of a higher standard.

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